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Guide

Read newspapers free with a library card

Your public library card is often the best free key to paid news. Many libraries pay for New York Times, Wall Street Journal or Washington Post passes, PressReader (thousands of papers and magazines as page-by-page editions) and news databases that you can use from home. Joining is free for local residents and, in many places, can be started online in a few minutes.

Last checked 6 Nov 2026. Library offers and prices change, so check the linked page before relying on it.

United States

US libraries usually provide the big national papers as short passes: you claim a code on the library website, link it to a free account with the publisher, and claim a new one when it runs out (often 72 hours for the NYT, 3 days for the WSJ and 7 days for the Post). Inside the library or on its Wi-Fi, access is often open with no code. Most libraries also offer PressReader, Libby or Flipster for magazines, and ProQuest, NewsBank or Gale databases for article text and back issues. Free cards depend on where you live, work or study, but some states are broad (any Texas resident at Houston, any Colorado resident at Denver, anyone in New York State at NYPL). A few libraries sell cards to outsiders.

Los Angeles Public Library

NYT 72-hour pass, WSJ 3-day pass, Washington Post 7-day pass

Passes are claimed from the library website and renewed when they lapse; the number of NYT passes is limited. The free online e-card is for City of Los Angeles residents.

Who can join
City of Los Angeles residents for the online e-card
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

The Seattle Public Library

NYT, WSJ (3 days, web only), Washington Post (7 days, Washington State users), PressReader, Flipster, ProQuest NYT archive, Access World News

NYT is open on library Wi-Fi and via a 72-hour code elsewhere. Cards are free if you live, work, study or own property in Seattle, Bothell or most of King County. Other Washington residents can pay US$85 a year, and a 3-month visitor card costs US$25. You can apply online.

Who can join
Free locally; paid cards for others
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

DC Public Library

NYT (1-day pass remotely), Washington Post website and app, PressReader (includes NYT and The Economist), Washington Post archive

Free for people who live, work, study or pay property tax in DC and for residents of several nearby Maryland and Virginia counties. An online application gives a temporary card; bring ID to a branch within 90 days. Others can buy a card for US$20 a year in person.

Who can join
DC and nearby counties free; US$20/year for others
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

Boston Public Library

NYT (72-hour passes, limited daily), WSJ 3 days, Boston Globe 72-hour pass, PressReader, Gale NYT archive from 1985

The eCard, for people who live, work, study or own property in Massachusetts, covers online resources. The news list is from the library's current guide; the eCard rules come from the library's site as seen through search.

Who can join
Massachusetts residents, workers, students and property owners
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Houston Public Library

NYT (3-day renewable access, app included), WSJ, Houston Chronicle, PressReader

Any Texas resident can sign up online for a free digital MyLink card. Borrowing physical items needs photo ID at a branch.

Who can join
Any Texas resident
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

San Francisco Public Library

NYT 72-hour code, WSJ by redemption code, PressReader (includes The Economist and the NYT replica), Flipster, ProQuest Washington Post

Cards are free for all California residents. You can start online but finish registration in person with photo ID; a 3-month visitor card costs US$10. Card rules are taken from the library's site as seen through search.

Who can join
California residents
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Denver Public Library

NYT online including Cooking, Games and The Athletic, PressReader, ProQuest WSJ and NYT archives

Free for any Colorado resident. Starting online gives immediate limited digital access, and you collect the full card in person. Off-site NYT access uses a short-lived code.

Who can join
Any Colorado resident
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

Fairfax County Public Library (Virginia)

WSJ for cardholders, US Major Dailies database (NYT, Washington Post, WSJ and others)

Anyone in the US living outside the county and partner areas can buy a non-resident card online for US$50 for one year, US$75 for two or US$100 for three, processed within about a week.

Who can join
Free locally; paid non-resident card for anyone in the US
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

New York Public Library

PressReader and news databases

Free for anyone who lives, works, studies or pays property tax in New York State, and you can apply online. We could not confirm current remote NYT or WSJ passes.

Who can join
New York State
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Chicago Public Library

NYT All Access (in branches, plus a code from home), ProQuest newspapers, WSJ archive from 1984

Cards are for Chicago residents and are issued in person with ID; online eCards stopped on 1 May 2025.

Who can join
Chicago residents, in person
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Free Library of Philadelphia

NYT 72-hour pass, PressReader (includes the NYT replica and The Economist)

Services are described on the library's blog. We did not confirm its current card eligibility rules.

Who can join
Not confirmed
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

King County Library System (Washington)

NYT (24-hour code outside the library), WSJ 3 days, PressReader

We did not confirm its current card eligibility rules.

Who can join
Not confirmed
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Canada

PressReader is offered by almost every Canadian library, and many big-city libraries add NYT passes (often 72 hours, with a daily cap); Toronto also offers the WSJ. The Globe and Mail on PressReader is usually limited to library buildings, but you can read Globe articles from home as text through ProQuest Canadian Newsstream or Canadian Major Dailies. Free cards are tied to your city (or the province, for BAnQ in Quebec), and online sign-up usually gives residents a digital or temporary card.

Calgary Public Library

NYT 72-hour pass (daily cap), PressReader (Globe and Mail in branch only), Canadian Newsstream, Globe and Mail archive

Free for Calgary residents and nearby Indigenous communities; you can join online.

Who can join
Calgary residents
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

Toronto Public Library

NYT 72-hour pass (capped), WSJ 3 days (browser), PressReader (Globe and Mail on library computers and Wi-Fi)

Free if you live, work, study or own property in Toronto. Residents aged 13 and over can get a Digital Access Card online. Non-residents pay CA$50 for 3 months or CA$150 a year, in person.

Who can join
Toronto; paid card for others
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Vancouver Public Library

NYT, Globe and Mail current issues from home (trial to April 2027), PressReader

City of Vancouver residents can get a temporary digital card online. Most digital content is for Vancouver residents only.

Who can join
City of Vancouver
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Ottawa Public Library

PressReader (Globe and Mail in branch only), Globe and Mail from home via Canadian Major Dailies or Gale, NYT passes

PressReader details are from the library's page; the NYT passes and joining rules (online form, then ID and proof of address at a branch) are unconfirmed.

Who can join
Ottawa residents (not confirmed)
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Edmonton Public Library

NYT (sign in again every 72 hours remotely), US Major Dailies including WSJ, PressReader

Free for Edmonton residents, with a 45-day temporary card available online. Non-resident cards carry a fee and do not include remote e-content.

Who can join
Edmonton residents
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

BAnQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec)

PressReader (Globe and Mail on site only), Eureka news database

Quebec residents aged 12 and over can subscribe free online and use the digital platforms from home. Non-residents can join but get on-site access only. Some French-language titles leave PressReader and Eureka on 1 January 2027.

Who can join
Quebec residents for remote access
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Halifax Public Libraries

PressReader, Canadian Major Dailies (including the Globe and Mail)

A digital card is available online, but Canadian Major Dailies needs a physical card number.

Who can join
Not confirmed
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

United Kingdom

Most council library services give members free PressReader, which covers most UK national papers, plus Libby or BorrowBox for magazines; some add NewsBank or newspaper archives. You can usually join online and get a temporary number straight away, then confirm ID at a branch. Some councils limit online resources to people who live, work or study in the area. We found no UK public library offering FT access.

Westminster Libraries

PressReader, NewsBank, Libby e-magazines

Join free online if you are 16 or over with a UK address. The 24/7 online resources are for people who live, work or study in Westminster. PressReader needs signing in again every 30 days.

Who can join
Live, work or study in Westminster for online resources
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

Edinburgh Libraries

PressReader (including more than 100 UK and Irish newspapers)

Join free online from age 16; the temporary number lasts six months. For e-resources the library posts you a card. Libby is for members with an EH postcode.

Who can join
Open to join; some e-resources limited to EH postcodes
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

Leeds Libraries

PressReader inside Libby (30 days, renewable), Libby e-magazines

For people who live, work or study in Leeds. The online form gives a temporary number.

Who can join
Live, work or study in Leeds
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

Manchester Libraries

PressReader (sign in again every 3 days), BorrowBox e-magazines, British Newspaper Archive in its libraries

Any UK resident can join free online and get a temporary number, then show ID at a branch.

Who can join
Any UK resident
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Camden Libraries

PressReader, Libby, BorrowBox

Anyone can join free and get a temporary number online, but digital services need photo ID and proof of address shown in person.

Who can join
Open to all; ID check for digital services
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Birmingham Libraries

PressReader through the Extras section of Libby

We did not confirm Birmingham's joining rules.

Who can join
Not confirmed
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

British Library (Reader Pass)

On-site reading, including free British Newspaper Archive access in the Reading Rooms

The Reader Pass is free for adults 18 and over and lasts three years, but you register in person at St Pancras or Boston Spa with ID and proof of address; online pre-registration has been suspended since the 2023 cyber-attack. Nothing is available from home.

Who can join
Anyone 18+, in person
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

Australia

Every state library offers free membership with online sign-up, and residents of that state can use its e-resources from home. Common services are PressReader, NewsBank, ProQuest ANZ Newsstream and Gale, and several libraries carry full library editions of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. The National Library of Australia is free to any Australian resident with an instant online login.

State Library of NSW

PressReader, SMH full print edition from 2006, NewsBank Access Australia, ProQuest ANZ Newsstream

Join free online with an email and a NSW address; remote access to e-resources is for NSW residents. The card number can take up to two business days.

Who can join
NSW residents
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

State Library Victoria

PressReader, including The Age, SMH, The Australian, Herald Sun and the AFR (after a 3-day delay)

The free digital membership is for Victorian residents, and home access needs a Victorian address. Use is limited to private research or study.

Who can join
Victorian residents
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

State Library of Queensland

PressReader, SMH and The Age library editions, NewsBank Access Global, ANZ Newsstream, Times Digital Archive 1785-2014

Anyone can join free online. Queensland residents get the subscription databases; access may be limited for people outside Queensland.

Who can join
Open to all; full e-resources for Queensland residents
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

State Library of Western Australia

PressReader (nearly 6,000 titles), e-newspapers

Free for WA residents, who can register online. Non-residents can use the licensed resources only on computers in the library.

Who can join
WA residents
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

State Library of South Australia

PressReader (includes The Economist), NewsBank for The Advertiser, Sunday Mail, the Financial Review and The West Australian

Joining is free and online registration creates a digital membership straight away; home access to e-resources is for SA residents.

Who can join
SA residents for home access
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

National Library of Australia

eResources portal (resources marked with a yellow key work from anywhere)

Free for any Australian resident, with an instant digital login when you register online.

Who can join
Any Australian resident
Go to the page Confirmed on an official page

City of Sydney Library

PressReader, NewsBank, Gale OneFile News, SMH digital edition

Membership is free for NSW residents: apply online, then confirm ID at a branch. Visitors can get a 3-month membership.

Who can join
NSW residents
Go to the page Reported by a reliable source; check before relying on it

Questions

Usually free cards are for residents, workers or students in that city, county, state or province. Some libraries sell cards to outsiders, for example Fairfax County (from US$50 a year for anyone in the US) or Toronto (CA$150 a year).

Libraries buy a set number of short passes, often 24 to 72 hours for the NYT and 3 days for the WSJ, so more people can share them. When yours ends, go back to the library's page and claim a new one.

It is an app and website with thousands of newspapers and magazines laid out like the printed edition. Many libraries pay for it, so members read free after signing in with their card, and usually have to sign in again every few days or weeks.

Several Canadian libraries offer Globe and Mail articles from home through news databases, and Vancouver is trialling current-issue access. We did not find any public library offering the FT; university libraries are the better bet for it.

Often not at first. Many libraries give an instant e-card or temporary number online, though some ask you to show ID at a branch later to keep or upgrade it.